Useful Resources & Links

Useful Resources and Links for Parents and Carers

Did You Know?

A newborn has around 50,000 synapses (connections between brain cells. By age 1, they will have made around 1,000,000,000! The more they hear or see something, the stronger those connections become. (BBC Tiny Happy people)
A child’s language development doesn’t start when they begin to use words, babies start to distinguish sounds when they are in their mother’s womb.
Research shows that the home ‘learning environment’ and interactions with a parent or carer is a key predictor of a child’s success, not just in the Early Years but for their future.

Our Sefton Community

Babies and young children develop social skills by watching and interacting with others. Parents and Carers can also benefit from sharing ideas and building support network with other parents.

You may find this list of Community sessions helpful:

Baby and Toddler Groups
Sefton libraries run Story and Rhyme and Play session every day across the service.
Family Well-being centres run a range of universal play sessions across Sefton.

Early Years Resources to use at home

The BBC is continuously developing resources to support with early years. The ‘Tiny Happy People’ project is great in supporting language skills. The ‘Pre-schoolers Resources’ have been developed to support maths, communication, language and literacy, physical education, well-being and development, understanding the world and expressive arts and design and can be accessed here.

The BBC also offers Parent Support for Early Years, Parent’s toolkit and support for SEND.

Useful Links

There are a range of professionals working in health, education and social care to support parents and carers. Sometimes it can feel hard to ask for help or to know who to turn to. If in doubt, talk to your GP, health visitor or midwife, who will be able to signpost you to services available locally.

Whatever you are experiencing, charities across the UK are on hand with information and support. From opportunities to meet other parents, to specialist services and helplines, there is lots of support available.

For support with all aspects of parenting - contact Family Action’s FamilyLine or Action for Children’s Parent Talk.
Access information and self-care tools by downloading the Baby Buddy App.
Find your local Home-Start for support and social connection.
Build a supportive local network through NCT’s free local activities and meet ups.
Access support and advice services for single parents through Gingerbread.
Develop a pregnancy and post birth wellbeing plan through Tommy’s.
Find your local baby bank on the Little Village map.
Use the Hearts and Minds Partnership map to find local support for emotional wellbeing.
Get support from the Association for Post Natal Illness.
If you’re a Dad or a soon-to-be dad, you can find support from Future Men.
Get support as a parent or carer of a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) here

Specialised Support

Get support for your own mental health - call the Mind helpline (0300 123 3393) or text “Shout” to 85258 if you feel that you are in crisis.
Get support for you and your partner as a couple through Relate.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse of any kind, Refuge is here to support you.
If you’re an adult survivor of any form of child abuse, read information from NSPCC or contact the National Association for People Abused in Childhood
Access free advice on maternity rights and parental rights through Maternity Action.
Find guidance on financial support for families through Working Families.

Prgress Check Age Two	(pdf 16.9MB)
What To Expect When Guide	(pdf 1.58MB)